That First Pediatrician Visit: No One Prepares You for This

Oct 13

Hey mama,

Becoming a mom is overwhelming, isn’t it? One minute, you’re in the hospital surrounded by nurses, doctors, and support, and then—bam—you’re sent home with your baby and expected to know everything. You go from round-the-clock care to feeling completely on your own, and it’s a shock to the system. I didn’t realize how unprepared I was until my son’s first pediatrician visit. That day, I felt like I was drowning.

In the hospital, I was told he was latching, everything looked good, and I believed them because, why wouldn't I? But less than 48 hours after being discharged, when we got to the pediatrician, I found out my baby had lost so much weight. My heart sank. I had no idea my milk hadn’t even come in yet, and it hit me like a ton of bricks—I felt like I had failed him. After all I am his mother, I'm supposed to know what to do, right??

And let’s be real—this all happens when you’re barely sleeping, bleeding, wearing a diaper yourself, and googling every little sound or movement your baby makes. You’re exhausted, emotionally and physically, but you’re also trying to stay on top of everything because suddenly you’re responsible for this tiny human. It’s so much to handle.

I remember sitting there thinking, *How could I not know this?* I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t know how to care for my own baby, and it made me feel so small. Add to that the massive hormonal drop after giving birth—the biggest drop we experience as women—and it was just too much. My baby wasn’t latching, he was losing weight, and I was being told to supplement with formula. It was all so overwhelming.

When the pediatrician finally looked at me and asked, “How are you doing?” I just broke down. Tears came pouring out, and I couldn’t hold them back. I felt like I was failing as a mom, and I was so hard on myself. Looking back now, I wish I could go back and give that version of myself a hug. I wish I could tell her that she was doing her best, that this is normal, and that she wasn’t alone. I felt like I wasn’t doing anything right, and I hated how that made me feel.

No one had prepared me for this. No one told me that almost every new mom struggles in those early days. And I’ve talked to so many women since then who felt the exact same way. That first pediatrician visit? It’s rough. You feel like a shell of yourself, and it’s so easy to get caught up in the guilt and shame. But the truth is, almost every new mom goes through it. It’s normal. You’re doing your best, and that’s enough.

I wish more people talked about this. I wish we were more open about how hard that first visit can be, how it can make you question everything. If you’re reading this and you’re about to have your first visit, or you’ve already been through it, please know that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to feel like you’re drowning sometimes. But you’re not failing. You’re doing an amazing job.

So, to every new mom out there, let me remind you of something important: Give yourself grace. Let go of the guilt, and stop being so hard on yourself. You’re doing the best you can, and that is more than enough. You’re navigating the most beautiful, intense, and challenging journey of your life, and I promise, you’re not alone. You’re doing amazing, sweetie.

With love and a big hug,